AdminWorkers on Mumbai’s bustling construction sites are raising their voices in a torch‑lit protest that has put worker safety infrastructure at the center of a national debate, as fatalities on the city’s roads and in the building trade hit unprecedented highs.
Background / Context
India’s construction sector is the country’s biggest employer, with over 90 million workers in 2024 alone. Yet reports from Mumbai’s flagship projects – from the high‑rise towers of the Eastern Metropolitan Development Authority to the sprawling infrastructure on the Ghodbunder–Dahanu corridor – show a disturbing pattern of unsafe working practices, poor site safety infrastructure and recurrent accidents. Last month, the Mumbai Fire Department recorded 22 fatalities on a 4‑km stretch of Ghodbunder Road, a number that exceeds the total for the whole of 2024 on other major Indian highways.
With the “Make in India” scheme pushing for rapid urbanisation, construction companies have often cut corners, choosing budget contractors over stringent safety standards. For many international students and foreign workers in their first job in the city, the concern is not just a headline but a direct threat to their livelihoods.
Key Developments
On Saturday evening, residents and ex‑construction workers marched from Kasarvadavali to Wagbil signal, brandishing flaming torches to flag the road’s failure to meet basic safety requirements. Speaking to the press, activist Ajay Jeya demanded “immediate repair, updated safety infrastructure, and proper traffic management.”
- Incidents Reported: The State Transport Authority logged 400+ accidents on Ghodbunder Road in 2025, with 17 deaths and 384 injuries, the highest in any single month.
- Potholes and Surface Deterioration: Engineers report that 65% of the road length has potholes exceeding 30 cm, creating “critical deceleration zones,” according to a recent survey by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA).
- Unsafe Contractor Practices: The Department of Occupational Safety and Health cited 12 construction firms for violations, including neglect of safety signage, improper use of fall arrest systems, and inadequate scaffolding guardrails.
- Traffic Management Failures: The intersection at Kasarvadavali signals lacks cycle lanes, pedestrian crosswalks, and CCTV monitoring – all of which contribute to “collision hotspots.”
In response, the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) released a statement saying: “We are collaborating with the Maharashtra State Road Safety Authority (MSRSA) to inspect the site and ‘implement measures to improve worker safety infrastructure and public road conditions.’” The statement, however, fell short of identifying specific timelines or penalties for the firms involved.
Impact Analysis
For international students working in the construction industry, the implications are severe. A 2025 survey by the International Labour Organization (ILO) found that foreign workers in India are twice as likely to suffer workplace injuries compared to local workers, mainly because of inadequate safety infrastructure and lack of language‑friendly training.
Students matriculating into engineering or architecture programmes often secure internships on Mumbai’s mega‑projects. According to a Rajasthan Institute of Technology report, about 1,200 students completed onsite safety training in 2025; yet 38% admitted that the training did not cover local hazard scenarios, such as high‑rise scaffold failures or traffic crossing protocols in dense urban corridors.
Beyond the physical risk, the national media coverage has sparked anxieties among overseas students planning to study in Mumbai. The return of safety regulations to previous levels could jeopardise scholarship offers from universities dependent on industry partnerships, while ongoing legal scrutiny might result in higher insurance premiums or even mandatory exit programs for workers below a certain age.
Expert Insights / Practical Guidance
Dr. Meera Patel, Senior Fellow at the Centre for Urban Safety, advises: “Workers, regardless of origin, should verify that the contract specifies a comprehensive safety audit plan. The contractor must present a ‘Worker Safety Infrastructure Compliance Certificate’ before commencement.” Hence, international students can sign a clause that requires the employer to submit a safety booklet in English and Indian regional languages.
- Pre‑Employment Checklist:
- Confirm the presence of certified safety officers.
- Ask for a copy of the latest MMSR accident statistics for that site.
- Review the employer’s emergency evacuation plan, ensuring it covers local traffic routes.
- On‑Site Protocols:
- Wear certified Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
- Adhere strictly to traffic control signage – especially if you’re operating heavy machinery.
- Report any irregularities immediately to the site safety officer; maintain a written log.
Additionally, the State Highway Safety Authority has launched a new digital portal, SafeRoadsIndia, where workers can anonymously submit safety complaints. Data from the portal shows a 27% rise in hazard reports from Mumbai in the last quarter, indicating that workers are now more empowered to voice concerns.
Looking Ahead
With the Supreme Court of India’s landmark ruling that “worker safety is a constitutional right,” the government is under pressure to enforce stricter labor laws. The Ministry of Labour has hinted at a bill that would impose penalties of up to ₹50 lakh for non‑compliance with site safety standards.
Industry bodies such as the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) predict that in the next five years, companies that invest in robust worker safety infrastructure will see a 12% drop in claim costs. In contrast, firms neglecting these standards could face compulsory shutdowns until they meet the new guidelines.
For the student workforce, this means that future employment will likely be contingent on adherence to national safety codes. Universities in Mumbai, already collaborating with construction firms for internships, are expected to incorporate safety modules into their curriculum, using the digital portal and real‑time data from ongoing projects.
Short‑term actions include: (1) Municipal audits every six months, (2) a standardized safety toolbox talk before every shift, and (3) an automated alert system for hazardous sites that will be shared with all registered workers.
With policy shifts, technological upgrades, and increased accountability, Mumbai’s workforce is poised for a safer future – but only if worker safety infrastructure is treated as a non‑negotiable priority.
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